The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-02
"Choose You This Day.o

Then let praises, grateful praises.
Be our language evermora
"Choose You This Day"
Discussion often appears useless be-
cause it seems to do nothing but confirm
prejudices and deepen previous impress
sions. In all moral matters, however,
there is an influence at work which will
inevitably determine results, without
any regard to the question as a mere
matter of discussion. This ought to be
strong tower for every One who sees
that he is fighting battle against odds.
Whatever may be the odds, the issue is
certain, for the nature of things is such
that the ultimate moral good cannot be
attained except in the right way. If,
therefore, in contending for the truth
we find our efforts apparently vain and
fruitless, we are certain that defeat can
bring no possible disadvantage, except
to those who suffer from not being in the
right way.
In times of prosperity, when the
church includes much wealth and social
power, it appears 70 be useless to argue
against luxury, display, entertainment
and pleasures which are not only god
less, but morally dangerous and dete-
riorating. We are told that clergymen
would drive whole families into other
religious connections if they were to at .
tempt to deal thoroughly with the man
ners and customs of their parishioners.
Now, if the clergy or the people are not
faithful in saying and doing just what
is right and true and pure in the matter
of society and its habits, the result Is
just as certain as the movements of the
solar system, whatever may be the result
of arguments pro and con. They cannot
possibly have two things that are con-
Trajectory, they cannot have God and
mammon, they cann~t have peace and
dissipation, they cannot have voluptuous
amuscments and holy living. They may
succeed perfectly in provingto their own
satisfaction that the opposition of world
ly pleasures is narrow, bigoted, puritan
ical and extremely unpleasant. But
this will not alter the conditions in the
least. Like all the rest to the world,
the church is compelled to choose, and
the result of this choice will settle the
question as an argument. If it chooses
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eye, the pride of life, then it chooses
that which is not of the Father, but Of
the world. 1t will have an abundant
supply of good things, but it will be
sadly lacking in the one thing needful.
1t may shine with many dazzling lights
but it cannot glow with the light Of
the Son of Righteousness. It
may WELD imperial power and have all
learning and all genius for its services,
yet it will be utterly destitute of that
power which alone can redeem sinner
and regenerate his soul.
It is precisely the same case with all our
discussion in regard to the observance OF
the Sabbath. We may not be successful
in making others see as We do, in regard
to the duty of keeping the Lords day
holy to him. Practically, however, this
question must settle itself in every life
and in every community. People are
compelled to choose between two things,
for it is impossible to have both. They
cannot have q Sunday OF gossiping
newspapers, silly novels, idle pleasuring,
social visiting, and also q Sunday of
divine worship, profitable occupation,
restful abstinence from daily work
and pleasures. They cannot ignore
the sacredness of half the day without
losing half its benefit, and especially in
our busy world, without excluding the
most favorable opportunity for spiritual
improvement and benevolent effort. 1t
matters not how we argue on the Sunday
question, the result will be the same al
ways. Those who keep the Lords day
will have the benefit and blessing.
Those who do not, cannot have these
things, and the loss is all Their own.
This principle prevails in regard to
many other matters, intellectual as we'll
as moral, which have been the subject
of animated discussion during the year
lust ended. We cannot settle matters
by our arguments. They arc in great
degree settled for us in spite Of
all our arguments. In the issues of life
God corpes us to recognize what is true
and essential. He gives us the power Of
choice and so arranges TINT We cannot
obtain the ultimate good un'css we
refuse the evil. We may argue rs We
will that the evil is not evil, but in his
own way and time lie teaches. IN ?.
Obserpsr.